Workmen's advocate., 1887-05-07
BE THEY WELC0ME E
THE MOST REASONABLE THE-
 ORY WILL PREVAIL.
Small Capitalists Destined to be En. gulfed Every One Can Be. come n Capitalist Under
 the COmpetiye Sys.
 tenn DWindliDg.
BY DR. A DOUAI.

Strange as it may seem, it is the truth that Monopoly could not exist without the existence of workers and middle-class men who are capitalists on small scale. The persons who have deposits in savings bank, or own small house, 8 business of their own, farm, store or any other small capita, are the ones who form the body-guard of monopolsts and their interests.
 It is they who are most anxious not to lose their small savings by which they are able to tighten their burden of toll, and they are, therefore, fear ful of any great legislative revulsion of property, since their means to de- fend it in any court of justice are in- sufficient. And well they may be anxious and fearful, unless they are well yersed in the truths of modern political economy.
 If they but knew that all smaller capitals are destined to be engulfed and swallowed up by the largest capitalistic concerns, they might be to blame for their fears. They, alas know not their real ene- mics. No socalistc scheme could be carried out without guarding with greatest care the ownership of the earnings of real labor. But the great capitalistic class are, and must by the very life-laws of competition and exploitation continue, regardless of the consequences of their accumu- lation of capital, no matter how many millions of real workers may be ru- ined.
 Any socalstic reform, be it con- ducted according to the plan of Karl Marx, or of Henry George, or of Uriah Stephens, or of Trades Union ism, must depend for its success upon the cooperation by law of the great majority of real workers, the wage slaves and the middle-class persons It can not even hope for much pro- gress, unless it holds up to them better prospect for all future time than that which is now in store for them. This goes almost without say ing. Onl y a great ma jority of the people can carry Tn the legislatures, and enforce in practice, laws which are to revolutionize the institutions of private property; all socialistic schemes must be, and are, calculated not to alienate the support of the mass of workers, although not all such schemes may be equally capable offultillng their promises. But this much ought to be ineligible to every thoughtful mind, that the pres ent capitalistic order or, rather, disorder-can neither hold out any truthful promises of betterment of life's standard, nor fulfill them. It is self-evldent that not everybody can become capltallst-or who should pay, then, all the interest?
 But it Is clear, that all socialistic schemes of reform must work by q truly democratic plan; must give ev erybody vote in all concerns of his interest; must have a real govern ment by the people and for the peo- pie, if they are to be introduced into actual existence. When the legisla lures are governed by bribery in the interest of monopoists, they caanot make laws which will benefit every body among the workers.
 Is this so difficult to understand :? Can it not be made clear to anybody byagitation and enlightenment? We think it possible, nay, indispensable, and We see now that 1t Is being ac- complished in great measure by the force of outward circumstances.
 The body-guard of monopolists, the owners of small capital, are dwin- ding down in number and in energy. Let us, therefore, beware of fright